Record-breaking day at Heathrow as airport handles over a quarter of a million passengers

Heathrow Airport has marked a record-breaking day with the highest number of passengers ever recorded.

On June 30, the airport witnessed a staggering 268,000 travellers passing through its facilities.

The airport also noted that it surpassed the 260,000 daily passenger mark on five separate occasions throughout June, including back-to-back days on June 23 and 24.

In total, Heathrow saw a significant increase in passenger traffic for the month, with figures reaching 7.4 million, a 5.6% rise from the 7.0 million reported during the same period last year.

The airport now boasts a workforce of over 90,000 staff members, which is higher than at any previous point, and this includes roles such as a dedicated "baggage resilience team" and numerous "helpers" to guide travellers.

However, British Airways faced a setback due to a technical issue on June 25 that affected its baggage system at Heathrow, causing inconvenience for many passengers whose luggage was either not loaded onto their flights or was delayed upon arrival.

Thomas Woldbye, Heathrow's chief executive, expressed his gratitude towards the staff for their efforts: "June has seen more Heathrow records shattered including serving more passengers in a single day than ever before."

He praised the dedication of the team, ensuring that the 268,000 passengers on the busiest day experienced a seamless and relaxed journey.

Woldbye confidently stated: "We have started summer as we mean to go on."

In other news, regulatory authorities have decided to lower the fees Heathrow can charge airlines until the end of 2026.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has announced a reduction in the cap on fees from previously stated figures, dropping by £1.52 to £23.73 per passenger for next year and by £1.57 to £23.71 per passenger in 2026. This decision was made following a determination by the Competition and Markets Authority, which considered appeals from Heathrow Airport and airlines including British Airways, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic.

The CAA explained that the price reductions are due to changes in Heathrow's debt calculation, the cost of the airport's pension payments and business rates, as well as its recovery of revenues lost during the Covid-19 pandemic. These charges are typically paid by airlines but are usually passed onto passengers through air fares.